Abstract CT068: Phase Ib/II combination study of APR-246 and azacitidine (AZA) in patients with TP53 mutant myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Introduction: TP53 mutant (mTP53) MDS and AML represent a distinct molecular cohort with poor outcomes. Hypomethylating agents (HMA) have emerged as preferred treatment for these patients with CR rate of 20-30% and median OS of 6-12 months. APR-246 is a mutant p53 activator with single agent activity in mTP53 AML. We report initial phase 1b results of APR-246 + AZA in mTP53 MDS/AML. Methods: Eligible pts included HMA naïve mTP53 MDS and oligoblastic AML (≤ 30% blasts) ≥ 18 years of age. Pts received APR-246 in a 3+3 dose escalation design (50, 75, 100 mg/kg lean body weight) IV daily over 4 days in a lead-in phase (days -14 to -10) followed by the same dose of APR-246 (days 1-4) + AZA 75 mg/m2 SC/IV over 7 days (days 4-10 or 4-5 and 8-12) in 28 day cycles. Primary objective was safety with AEs graded by CTCAE v4.03 and DLT assessment over 6 weeks. Secondary endpoints included response by IWG 2006 criteria as well as serial next generation sequencing (NGS) and p53 IHC for evaluation of clonal suppression and remission depth. Results: As of Jan 1, 2017, 9 pts (33% male; median age 65 years (39-73)) have enrolled with 3 pts per cohort. Three pts had AML-MRC and 6 had MDS; all pts had poor risk cytogenetics (11% poor, 89% very poor) and higher risk disease by IPSS-R (22% high, 78% very high). Median BM blasts were 18% (4-30). Seven pts (78%) remain on study: 2 pts in the 50mg/kg cohort discontinued treatment (Tx), 1 pt due to infection during C2 who later died of sepsis unrelated to Tx, and 1 pt electively discontinued in durable marrow CR (mCR) after 5 cycles of therapy. Median time on study is 106 days (14-221). Tx related AEs during the lead-in phase (all G1) included ataxia (n=1), dizziness (n=1), and facial numbness (n=1). AEs occurring in > 1 pt included dizziness (n=3), nausea (n=3), neutropenia (n=3), thrombocytopenia (n=3), infection (n=3), headache (n=2), pain (n=2), weakness (n=2), falls (n=2), facial numbness (n=2), and ataxia (n=2); all G1/G2 except neutropenia/thrombocytopenia (G4). No Tx-related SAEs or DLTs have occurred to date. Five of six pts were response evaluable with 1 pt discontinuing tx prior to 1st disease assessment. ORR by IWG was 100% with 4 CR (80%, 3/3 in DL2) and 1 mCR. All CR patients achieved complete cytogenetic response. One CR patient achieved a mCR and partial cytogenetic response after APR-246 lead-in prior to combination therapy. All CR pts had high p53 positivity by IHC at baseline (55-70%) which normalized on serial as